Chaffers History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Chaffers

What does the name Chaffers mean?

Chaffers is an Anglo-Saxon name. The name was originally given to a traveling merchant. Further research revealed that the name is derived from the Old English word ceapfaru, which appears in the Old English as chaffere and chaffar, a person engaged in traffic or trade of merchandise.

Early Origins of the Chaffers family

The surname Chaffers was first found in Lancashire where they held a family seat from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D.

Early History of the Chaffers family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Chaffers research. Another 83 words (6 lines of text) covering the year 1743 is included under the topic Early Chaffers History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Chaffers Spelling Variations

One relatively recent invention that did much to standardize English spelling was the printing press. However, before its invention even the most literate people recorded their names according to sound rather than spelling. The spelling variations under which the name Chaffers has appeared include Chaffers, Chaffer and others.

Early Notables of the Chaffers family

Jeremiah Chaffers of Liverpool

Chaffers migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 1

Chaffers Settlers in West Indies in the 18th Century

James Chaffers, aged 33 settled in Jamaica in 1773
James Chaffers, aged 33 who settled in Jamaica in 1775

Contemporary Notables of the name Chaffers (post 1700) +

William Henry Chaffers, Quebec businessman and politician

Sources +

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies